Kalinga Park Archives - Clayfield News

Historic Anzac Day Service Moved Inside Kalinga Park as Attendance Soars

The Clayfield-Toombul RSL Sub Branch has a long-standing tradition of hosting its Anzac Day service at the historic gates of Kalinga Park in Clayfield since 1920. However, due to the substantial increase in attendance, reaching close to 3,000 people in 2023, the service has been relocated inside the park for the first time in more than a century.

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This change is part of a broader trend in Queensland, with over 350 Anzac Day services and marches expected to draw tens of thousands of people, signifying a return to pre-pandemic commemorations, as stated by RSL Queensland.

A representative from the Clayfield-Toombul RSL Sub Branch explained that the Kalinga Park gates no longer provided sufficient space as the crowds grew, fueled by a rising number of younger members.

Consequently, moving the service to the park’s main area allowed for an even larger gathering where individuals can come together to honour the fallen and serving Diggers.

The spokesperson further elaborated on the reasons behind the relocation, emphasising that the memorial gates at Kalinga Park are situated at the end of a residential street. This setting posed a challenge as the Anzac Day gathering continued to expand.

Photo credit: Clayfield-Toombul RSL/Facebook

By transferring the service to the park itself, the event can accommodate more attendees and facilitate its ongoing growth.

To enhance the commemoration, the Clayfield-Toombul Sub Branch has commissioned a new 3m ‘interactive’ cenotaph, wherein attendees will have the opportunity to attach poppy magnets personalised with the names of their loved ones who served.

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During the Anzac Day service in 2023, veterans and local school children marched the wreaths laid at the cenotaph to the memorial gates, paying tribute to those who made the ultimate sacrifice.

Published 12-May-2023

Flood-damaged Kalinga Park Rebuilt, Now Open

Almost half a year after catastrophic floods closed Kalinga Park, it finally reopened last August, with an event attended by residents and their kids.

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Brisbane City Council reopened the park for the first time since February 2022, when it was closed due to fallen trees and debris.

Councillor Adam Allan joined locals in the reopening of the park on 27 August 2022, where there was face painting, a coffee van and a sausage sizzle.

Brisbane’s parks are slowly reopening as part of the city’s Rebuild and Recover program. As of July 2022, around 297 out of 1,072 damaged playgrounds are under repair, with only 15 remaining out of service.

Kalinga park was hard-hit by the severe weather earlier this year, leaving the play equipment and the BBQ as well as the brook damaged beyond recovery.

kalinga park flooded — The park following the February 2022 flooding (Photo credit: Councillor Adam Allan/Facebook)

The first stage of the rebuild and recovery for Kalinga Park involved identifying what can be restored and removing what can’t whilst the second stage involved designing the layout for a playground that has greater flood resilience.

About Kalinga Park

kalinga brisbane — Photo credit: Councillor Adam Allan/Facebook

A fixture in Kalinga since 1910, Kalinga Park (previously known as Anzac Memorial Park) is one of the most popular parks in the suburb because of its many facilities.

Located at 48 Kalinga Street, the park is equipped with playgrounds, picnic area/shelters, barbecue, basketball half court, bikeway, car park, cricket field, cultural heritage site, hockey fields, outdoor fitness/exercise trail, path network, public toilet, and tennis courts.

Read: Clayfield: Revisiting the Historical Places That Made This Suburb Great

It also features a dog off-lease area for small dogs along Bertha St, which comes with bubbler, tap/dog bowl.

The park is home to Brisbane Petanque Club, Queensland Miniature Race Car Club, and the Wooloowin Scouts.

Learn to Maintain Your Bike: A Workshop at Kalinga Park Exclusive for Women

Women 16 years old and above are invited to attend a free workshop on “How to Maintain Your Bike for Free” at Kalinga Park, Clayfield on 14th January from 9:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. The course will teach women how to change tyres and keep their bikes rolling with basic maintenance tips that will save them from spending. All interested females may attend the workshop with or without their bikes.

Bike maintenance is important to ensure the safety of riders whenever they are out cycling. Both loose and stiff bike parts can lead to accidents, including damage and corrosion. All of these could lead to unnecessary expense, or worse, injure the rider. All bike parts need to be tightened, inspected, and properly lubricated.

Another benefit of learning how to properly maintain bikes is that regular safeguarding avoids major bike damage. Learning to maintain bikes on your own will help you troubleshoot small problems as they arise and save you from bigger and more expensive repairs or buying a brand new bike.

Photo credit: CCO Public Domain / Taliesi / Pixabay

The “How to Maintain Your Bike for Free” is presented by the Brisbane City Council as part of its Active and Healthy & Cycling programs. One of the Council’s Brisbane Vision 2031 themes is an active and healthy city. To support this initiative, the Council provides different recreational events that will promote healthy lifestyle for people of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds. One of this is the Cycling Brisbane which holds regular activities that are similar to the How to Maintain Your Bike for Free workshop.

Regular cycling provides health benefits such as strengthening the cardiovascular and other muscles of the body. It also improves the joint mobility, posture, and body coordination. Furthermore, biking decreased stress and body fats, prevent many diseases, and reduced anxiety and depression.

Kalinga Park in Clayfield is Holding a Circus Workshop

There will be a circus workshop at Kalinga Park in Clayfield on the 6th of January 2018 at 3:00 p.m. for children ages 10 to 17 years old. Attendees will be taught plate spinning, poi, hoops, juggling, stilts, pogo, and flower sticks.

The event is free and no prior bookings are required. The workshop is to be held by the playground and to be facilitated by the Brisbane City Council. Participants are advised to wear comfortable clothes, put sun protection, bring a water bottle. Do these and you’re all set!

The workshop aims to develop kids’ kinaesthetic abilities like hand coordination and body alertness. Learning the basic circus acts can also instil into kids the art of being patient where “practice makes perfect”. It can teach them that things cannot be perfectly done during the first try and that one has to put their whole attention and repeated effort to achieve something.

The Kalinga Park has been a favourite among children in the neighbourhood because it is spacious and has nature-themed tree houses surrounded by bushland. The tree houses are inter-connected with climbing ropes, ladders, twisting slides, and large rock climbing wall. For smaller children, there is the smaller vine treehouse with a smaller slide. There is also a merry-go-round, different sets of swings, mini road network with a roundabout where children can be taught about basic road rules.

The park also features a large sandpit surrounded by sculptured characters shaped after the flowers and animals found at the Kedron Brook catchment. The place also has a bike path that is part of the Kedron Brook Bikeway. A ride on the bike shall take anyone along a pleasant route through Kedron Brook’s nature corridor.

Families have also been enjoying picnic at the sheltered picnic tables where they can also have outdoor BBQ sessions. Those with dogs will be happy to know that there is an off-leash area where their pets can exercise and have fun freely. Further down the creek, there are ducks swimming and playing too.

The Kalinga Park also has wheelchair-accessible toilet facilities. Other facilities include water fountain and a carpark.

Kalinga Park in Clayfield is located at 48 Kalinga Street

Make a Dash for Clayfield’s Kalinga Dash!

The Kalinga Dash is back this year. Mark your calendars, Ray White Clayfield will bring another Kalinga Dash on Sunday, the 13th of August. The Kalinga Park will be filled with races, food and drinks, market stalls, and kiddie and adult entertainments.

Dash

There will be three races — a 7.5-kilometre Long Course, 4.2-kilometre Short Course, and the new 2-kilometre Kids’ Dash. There are marshals at intervals on the course to direct participants and ensure safety.

Pets are not allowed on any of the courses to avoid course congestion and ensure the safety of the participants.

Long & Short Courses

The 7.5-kilometre Long Course is a two-loop course, while the 4.2-kilometre Short Course is a one-loop course. Both races will start and finish on the Diggers Drive in Kalinga Park.

The safety briefing will commence at 7:45 a.m. and the race will start at 8:00 a.m. Cut-off times will apply to this course; participants are required to exit the course if not finished by 9:30 a.m.

Kids’ Dash

The Kids’ Dash is a new race that was designed to encourage children to participate and be active. Parents and guardians with registered children under 8 years of age should register to accompany their children around the course.

The race will start at 10:00 a.m. with start and finish points at the Diggers Drive. There will be no cut-off time for the Kids’ Dash, so every kid will get a chance to have a finisher medal.

Although there is already a dedicated course for the kids, children 8 years and older can still register for the other courses. Parents should sign a waiver stating that the child is physically fit and capable to run on the courses.

Registration

The “Early Bird” promo already ended last 30th of June, while the online pre-registration will end on 10th of August.

The “cash only registrations” will be accepted at the race office in the Eagle Junction State School on Saturday, 12th of August, between 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Limited registrations will also be accepted on the day of the race at 7:00 a.m. For the long and short courses, the registration will close at 7:30 a.m., while for the Kids’ Dash will close at 9:15 a.m.

Munch

Although the Kalinga Dash is one of the biggest fun runs in Clayfield, there are other activities scheduled for the day.

A variety of food stalls will serve BBQs, egg rolls, healthy and vegan snacks, cakes and sweets, and “sno-cones”. All of the proceeds will go to the Eagle Junction State School P&C Association for the benefit of the students.

Fun

This family fun day will have adult and children entertainments. The Eagle Junction State School will once again host the Side Show Alley. There will be stalls that will keep the little ones entertained.

The rides will keep the kids busy. Kids will sure enjoy the jumping castles, giant slide, and tea cup ride. The older kids (and adults) will surely engage with the new rides and games including the Sizzler, Lazer Tag, Dodgem Cars, and Footy Shoot Out.

Ride armbands can be purchased when you register for the Kalinga Dash for $20 before the online pre-registration closes and for $25 on the day.

Visit the Kalinga Dash website and Facebook page for details.

What’s On @ Clayfield This Weekend

Keep your hands full with these events in Clayfield this weekend.

Friday, 11 August

Splendour on the Flat

Tickets: $5

Time: 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.

Venue: St. Rita’s College

Photo credit: St Rita’s College/Facebook

St. Rita’s College will host an evening of music and fun to raise funds for their school immersion. The students will be singing, dancing, and showcasing their different talents on this relaxed event.

BYO picnic basket and blanket.

Saturday, 12 August

Freshies Fabulous Vegan Sale

Tickets: FREE ENTRY

Time: 10:00 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.

Venue: PETStock Clayfield

Photo credit: Fresh Start Rescue Incorporated/Facebook

The next vegan sale of Fresh Start Rescue Incorporated will be held on Saturday this week. It will be the best time to taste some of the freshest vegan snacks and cuddle their furry babies that are looking for their “fur”-ever family.

This is a fundraising event for “freshies,” rescued pets that need care.

Sunday, 13 August

Kalinga Dash

Tickets: $10 – $50 (see website for detailed pricing)

Time: 8:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Venue: Kalinga Park

The Kalinga Dash is back this year. It is a family-friendly fun run with three events — 7.5 kilometres, 4.2 kilometres, and 2.0 kilometres Kid’s Dash.

There will be food and drinks stalls, sweets and cakes, rides, and entertainment.

Early registration already ended last 30th of July. Online registration will close on 10th of August. Late entries are accepted on the event proper.

Sunday, 13 August

Ground to Grow

Tickets:

$120 – individual workshop
$740 – full program
$185 – four installment payments

Time: 12:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Venue: Clayfield Yoga Studio

Ground to Grow is an extension program for yoga students who wish for more. Alison Sykes and Tanya Zappala will teach breakdowns of common and popular yoga postures, hand balances, and inversions.

There will be seven sessions to be held every Sunday of the month from August to March.